Ladyfest Miami, for ‘progressive women and men,’ returns to Wynwood and Northeast Miami on Friday and Saturday.

The festival will “feature art, performances, and workshops by and for women and their allies,” said organizer Charo Valero, in a news release.

Last year’s first festival attracted more than 500 people, “90 percent being women,” Valero said.

Ladyfest Miami 2015 will take place Friday night at MADE at The Citadel, 8325 NE Second Ave., Miami, and on Saturday at The LAB, 400 NW 26th St., and Wynwood Cafe, 2550 NW Second Ave.

Here’s the complete news release:

Filling a void for a thoughtful convening of women aimed at building community and solidarity, LadyFest Miami is entering its second year. The annual festival will take place September 25th and 26th of this year, and will feature art, performances, and workshops by and for women and their allies.

LadyFest Miami was created by a group of progressive women and men last year because they saw that Miami lacked events and community for women. They strove to fill that gap with the first LadyFest Miami festival. The organizers believed that only 50 of their friends would show up “because they love us,” according to Charo Valero current Chair of PUSH Miami, the host organization of LadyFest Miami 2015. Instead, they drew an attendance of over 500, with 90% being women.

This year’s festival is poised to break that number, on Friday featuring a night of live performances by artists such as Emily Sheila, Inez Barlatier, and Omilani; as well as art; exhibitors; and more. Events on Friday are located at MADE at The Citadel and start at 7 PM.

On Saturday, starting at 11 AM at The LAB and Wynwood Cafe, there will be workshops on topics such as gender, racial and reproductive justice, body positivity, climate change, health and healing, to name a few. Saturday will also feature a free market swap, free HIV/STI testing, art, music, a youth zone, child zone and numerous exhibitors.

This year LadyFest Miami is fortunate to be hosted by PUSH Miami, the organizing body behind LadyFest Miami, and presented by Survivor's Pathway, a non-profit foundation that provides counseling and advocacy services for LGBTQI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex) and Latino communities and victims of gender based violence. Additional sponsors whose support has been vital includes SAVE, Juicee, Pridelines, World OutGames Miami, and Black Lives Matter South Florida.

Holding true to their value of inclusion, the festival will have a family zone available for people with children and will be fully accessible to people using wheelchairs. They also will be offering Spanish-speaking interpreters at workshops.

LadyFest Miami’s mission is to create an affirming space for women and girls centered around their experiences, that uplifts their narratives and inspires them to celebrate and critically examine their lives. Come, join women and their allies to see that mission in action on the 25th and 26th. For more information or to register (for free) for the festival, visit ladyfestmiami.com.